I write this at the beginning of September 2020, and the world is still basically in an utter state of chaos. I don’t claim to be an historian, but I have watched a couple of documentaries on Netflix and listened to a podcast or three. It would seem as though we are living in unprecedentedly fractious and polarized times. And maybe we are. Then again, maybe we aren’t. We’ve had two wars fought on this continent among citizens of the same country. Two, you ask? Yes; bear with me as I explain from the shallow depths of my “knowledge”. We are all aware of the Civil War, fought in the 1860’s. Ironically named, is it not? This remains the deadliest of all wars involving the U.S. military and civilians, in which just over two percent of the population was killed. This is a staggering number. Second deadliest was the American Revolutionary War, in which one percent of the population was killed. This is where you may wonder, “What is that moron saying? We fought against the British in that conflict!” True. But remember, at that time the colonists were still British citizens. So in a way, British Redcoats were fighting British revolutionaries that ultimately won their independence. The soon to be Americans did have help from the French, Spanish, and Dutch, but I’ll ignore them for the sake of this discussion. Point is, we’ve experienced protracted seasons of protests, conflicts, and all out war.
I believe the root of most of the division, anger, and hatred we are seeing can be attributed to tribalism, or group identity. In and of itself, this would not be so bad. But what I find people doing is ascribing to a particular culture, race, class, or political bent at large the worst statements or actions of a usually small minority. Rare are the individual interactions where we meet with those that differ from our own ideology or theology. When is the last time you or I took a minute to break bread or share a conversation over a cup of coffee with someone “from the other side”? Have we been convinced that those on the opposite side of whatever divides us hates us, or that we are supposed to hate them? Quite frankly, there will be those that simply refuse to relate to somebody on an individual level, and will regard them as incorrect, deceived, or evil, not worthy of decency, civility, or respect. This will remain a sad reality. As Christians, we are not excused from at least attempting to be peacemakers (Rom. 12:18). More than that, we are called to love our enemies, and bless those who curse us (Matt. 5:44). In and of ourselves, we will not be able to solve man’s inhumanity toward man, but we may be able to bring reconciliation, or at the very least understanding, to at least a few. Most importantly, we are called to reconcile others to Christ, because only at the foot of the cross will division cease, and genuine love one for another flourish. (2 Cor. 5:18-19; Gal. 3:28)